They made the comment during an October 8 meeting with Vietnam Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat in Rome, adding they are particularly impressed with the splendid strides the nation has made in alleviating poverty and enhancing food security.
 

Minister Phat (behind left) meets with FAO Director General Jose Graziano da Silva (behind right)

FAO Director General José Graziano da Silva was forthright in his assertion that Vietnam is a blueprint that other economically troubled nations should follow, particularly given the backdrop of a world facing immense threats to global food security and challenges caused by climate change.

Graziano da Silva spoke glowingly of the efforts of the Vietnam government and its predisposition to create favourable conditions conducive to the success of FAO-funded projects in the country.

He proposed that Vietnam share its valuable experience by actively taking part in the South-South cooperation framework, and pledged his unabiding support in endeavours to strengthen bilateral cooperative relations in the coming time.

He said he will ask FAO relevant agencies to work closely with Vietnam and provide assistance to the country in completing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of the United Nations and other targets set by FAO.

For his part, Minister Phat lauded the Vietnam government and people for being in the vanguard of agro-forestry and fisheries technologies, pioneering new approaches to ensuring food security, reducing poverty rate, applying advanced technologies in agricultural production and protecting the environment.

He noted Vietnam strongly supports FAO initiatives and activities. The country has sent agricultural experts and technicians, and provided a wide variety of seeds for other developing countries in Africa, Latin America and Asia.

The country has also assisted them in drawing up plans and implementing innumerable other measures to bolster the development of agro-forestry and fisheries sectors, he said.

Phat thanked the FAO for its assistance with more than 400 FAO-funded agricultural projects over past years and said he avidly looks forward to their continued backing.

Minister Phat’s meeting with the FAO Director General took place subsequent to the 8th Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership Meeting (ASEP-8), where his speech on Vietnam’s agricultural development, poverty alleviation and food security drew wide acclaim.